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Influential Research at ChBE

Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering is known for the far-reaching impact of the research conducted by our faculty. Here we highlight faculty members and their research studies have generate numerous citations over the years.​

In 1998, Prausnitz published the paper “Microfabricated microneedles: A novel approach to transdermal drug delivery” in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Since that time, the paper has amassed 584 citations (Web of Science).

The paper described the first published study on the use of microneedles to painlessly deliver drugs through the skin.

Since that time, Prausnitz has continued to develop the microneedle technology. In 2015, a phase I clinical trial conducted by Emory University in collaboration with Prausnitz’s team found that influenza vaccination using Band-Aid-like patches with dissolvable microneedles was safe and well tolerated by study participants. The results of the study were published in The Lancet.

“It’s very gratifying and exciting to have these patches tested in a clinical trial, and with a result that turned out so well,” Prausnitz said.

ChBE Professors among Most Highly Cited

Nga Lee "Sally" Ng and Younan Xia, faculty members in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, are among the world’s most Highly Cited Researchers in the sciences and social sciences, according to the new Clarivate Analytics list published online this month. Both made the list in 2017 as well.

Highly Cited Researchers are selected for their exceptional research performance, determined by production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in Web of Science. The 2018 Clarivate list selects scientists and social scientists for their success in one or more of 21 fields (those used in Essential Science Indicators (ESI) or across several fields.

In 2014, Ng published the paper, “Effects of anthropogenic emissions on aerosol formation from isoprene and monoterpenes in the southeastern U.S.,” in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Since that time, the study has amassed 167 citations in other journal articles (Web of Science).

In the study, Ng found that certain emissions from cars and coal-fired power plants promote processes that transform naturally occurring emissions from trees into organic aerosols that can affect climate, air quality, and human health.

The researchers, including Georgia Tech Professors Athanasios Nenes and Rodney Weber, found that sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides directly and substantially mediate the formation of aerosols from the volatile organic compounds produced by trees.

Professor Chris Jones' Work with Direct CO2 Capture

In 2010, Jones co-authored the paper “Application of Amine-Tethered Solid Sorbents for Direct CO2 Capture from Ambient Air” in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Since that time, this study has amassed nearly 200 citations in other journal articles.

Jones is at the forefront of a field involving direct air capture (DAC) of CO2. The technology involves air-capture machines that can be installed anywhere to soak up the carbon dioxide emissions from not only power plants, but also sources such as automobiles, airplanes, ships, homes, and farms.

In the 2010 study, Jones and his collaborators showed that amine-based air capture processes have the potential to be an effective approach to extracting CO2 from the ambient air. They noted that direct CO2 capture from ambient air offers the potential to be a truly carbon negative technology instead of just slowing the impact of CO2 buildup on climate change.

Professor David Sholl’s Work with MOFs

In 2010, Sholl co-authored the paper “Can Metal-Organic Framework Materials Play a Useful Role in Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Separations?” in ChemSusChem. Since that time, this study has amassed 273 citations in other journal articles.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a relatively new class of crystalline nanoporous materials that can be synthesized with a diverse range of pore dimensions, topologies, and chemical functionality. Their applications include gas storage, purification, separation, and catalysis. In the paper, Sholl and his co-authors explored the body of knowledge surrounding the possibility of using MOFs in large-scale carbon dioxide separations, such as separating CO2 from power plant flue gas. They found that potential exists, despite some challenges.